Contact For Immediate Release
Mark Hanna October 17, 2006
(512) 326-7616
Wildlife Making Texas Highways Hazardous
The increasing number of motorists and deer in Texas are leading to a greater
frequency of collisions between the two on the state’s roadways. Cooler weather and the
annual rut season should make for even more hazardous conditions in the coming weeks.
Texas leads all other states in motorist who have been killed in vehicle-animal
collisions. Texas also has the largest deer population in the country. The Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says our state’s abundant wildlife and additional
traffic have made Texas the most hazardous state for vehicle-animal crashes every year
since 2000.
Several roadways in Texas are more dangerous than others, but Texas Parks and
Wildlife officials say deer are moving into areas all over the state. Last year in Kerr
County alone, Texas Department of Transportation employees removed more than 1,500
dead deer off of the county’s roadways.
Wayne Bordovsky with the Texas Department of Transportation Kerr County
District Office says the 1,500 deer doesn’t reflect all of the vehicle-animal collisions that
occurred in 2005. “That number didn’t count the number of deer that were struck by
vehicles and later died off the roadway or the deer that were killed within the city limits
of Kerrville.”
Texas Department of Public Safety officials say many accidents involving deer
are never reported to area law enforcement officials, but are handled by local insurance
agents. Mark Hanna, a spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas, says your auto
insurance policy will protect you if your vehicle strikes an animal. “An auto policy with
comprehensive coverage will pay for repairing or replacing a vehicle after the accident,
minus the deductible,” Hanna said. “Personal injury protection (PIP) will provide up to
the limit purchased for any injuries the driver or passengers might sustain in the collision.
You will want to report the accident to your insurance agent or company representative as
soon as possible.”
In Llano County, which calls itself the Deer Capital of Texas, deer hunting and
traffic accidents involving deer both work their way into the economy. Eighty percent of
the body work taking place at the Economy Body and Paint Shop in Llano involves
repairing vehicles that have collided with deer.
“We had one lady who brought her SUV in for repair after hitting a deer,” said
Daniel Baker of Economy Body and Paint. “We repaired her damaged front fender and
added a new grill guard. In less than a week she was back in here because she had struck
another deer that had bounced off the grill and went through her front windshield.”
L. David Sinclair, chief of wildlife enforcement with the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department said many deer tend to venture near roadways because that’s where they can
find more food and greener grass because of rain runoff from the pavement. Sinclair
said dusk and full moon evenings bring out the deer.
Texas Department of Public Safety Sergeant Stephen Bynum in Lampasas said
drivers should note deer behavior. “It’s not the deer that are grazing on the side of the
road that drivers should be concerned with. It’s the deer that are moving and the herd
mentality of others that are following that you need to be watching.”
Bynum said drivers should also be holding the steering wheel in a 10 and 2
position. “If you hit a deer, oftentimes, your air bag will deploy and I have seen
numerous broken arms and broken noses where the driver was not holding onto the
steering wheel properly.”
Bynum said his current patrol car has been struck twice by deer. Both times, he
had brought his vehicle to a complete stop and the deer ran into the side of his car.
If you cannot avoid a head on collision with a deer, Bynum advices you hold onto
your steering wheel tightly, driving straight forward and riding out whatever happens.
“Trying to dodge a deer at a high rate of speed can result in a rollover and I’ve never seen
the damage from hitting a deer as bad as a rollover,” Bynum said.
More than one million vehicle-deer collisions occur each year in the United States
resulting in more than $1 billion in vehicle damage. The IIHS says three out of every
four vehicle-animal collisions in the U.S. involves deer.
Texas Department of Public Safety Sergeant Lee Snead in Fredericksburg said the
state’s newest road hazard has become feral hogs. “Unlike deer that will damage the
outside of a vehicle, feral hogs will tear up the bottom of a car or truck.”
Many vehicle-animal crashes are unavoidable, but recognizing the danger and
being prepared can save lives.
Drivers are advised to scan roadways for deer; if at night, motorists should look
for deer eye reflections. Passengers can help “keep an eye out for deer.”
Keep headlights on high beam as much as possible without blinding other drivers.
When a deer is spotted, drivers should reduce speed but maintain control. Use
emergency flashers or pump the brakes to alert vehicles approaching from behind.
Do not attempt to steer into oncoming traffic or veer off the roadway to avoid
colliding with an animal.
If a deer is observed crossing the road, reduce speed. Deer are social animals and
often travel in family groups, so it is likely that others will follow.
If you collide with an animal, immediately turn on your flashers and move onto
the shoulder to avoid oncoming traffic.
Call 911 to report the mishap and contact your insurance agent or insurance
company representative to repair your vehicle.
The Insurance Council of Texas is the largest insurance company trade association in
the state consisting of more than 500 property and casualty insurers writing business in
Texas.